Motorists to face high gas prices
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on May 23, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
As Memorial Day travelers are preparing for the weekend AAA is projecting a 55-cents-per-gallon increase in gas prices over last year.
With Memorial Day weekend just a few days away, motorists can expect to pay the highest gas prices in years as millions travel over the holiday.
According to a press release from AAA Carolinas, gas prices in North Carolina have jumped 10 cents over the last two weeks. Nationally, prices have increased 12 cents in the same time period, bringing the national average to $2.93, the highest Memorial Day price point since 2014.
Gas prices in North Carolina are 55 cents higher as of May 21 than they were in the same time period last year, according to the press release. Since gas spiked at $3.62 per gallon in 2014, average prices in North Carolina have been on a steady decline each year until now.
"Although prices are 55 cents higher for North Carolinians and 58 cents higher for South Carolinians this year compared to last Memorial Day, we are still expecting over 1.8 million Carolinians to travel this holiday weekend," said AAA Carolinas spokesperson Tiffany Wright. "Motorists will feel the spike at the pump, but higher prices won't keep them from celebrating Memorial Day weekend with a road trip."
Despite the spike in costs, the South and Southeast continue to have the lowest gas prices in the country, according to the release.
If you are planning on taking a trip for Memorial Day weekend, gas prices are not the only thing you should keep in mind. Traffic is likely to be heavier than usual along the major roadways leading to the coast, such as U.S. 70, said State Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael Dorsey.
"U.S. 70 is always going to be the worst in the Wayne County area, as well as I-795 including U.S. 117," Dorsey said. "Any of the major lanes from the western part of the state to the coast, especially on the heaviest travel days which are Friday and Monday."
With so many drivers on the road at once, staying safe is more important than ever. Dorsey offered a few tips and guidelines to follow before and during your trip.
"We always tell people that, before you go, plan ahead. Make sure your vehicle is in good mechanical order. Especially with the high temperature, we see a lot of vehicles that overheat," he said. "We also see a lot of people traveling on tires that are not in best condition, and we see a lot of flats and blowouts."
Memorial Day this year also coincides with the rollout of the Highway Patrol's "Click It or Ticket" program, and troopers will be paying special attention to whether or not people are buckling their seat belts while in the car. That extends to everyone in the vehicle, not just the driver, Dorsey said, so do yourself and your travel partners a favor and buckle up.